Why You Should Recycle or Donate Books You Aren’t Using
For many people, books are a mainstay around the home or office. They are more than just something to read and pass the time with. They also adorn shelves and desks, and add a little character to any room.
Sometimes, though, they pile up and start collecting dust without us realizing it. Many people don't notice they have an overabundance of books until they have trouble finding the ones they want to read.
Don't trash them. A surplus of books could be a perfect fit for someone else's bookshelf, or they could be recycled into new books and other products later on. Below are your options for selling, donating, and recycling books, along with tips on doing each one well.
Should You Sell, Donate, or Recycle Your Books?
Before you box everything up for charity, it is worth a quick sort, because your best option depends on condition and value:
- Sell if a book is in good shape and in demand, such as recent textbooks, popular fiction, or anything rare, signed, or a first edition. You can sell to an online buyback service or a local used bookstore.
- Donate if a book is still readable and intact but not worth much, which covers most general paperbacks and hardcovers. This is the right path for the majority of books.
- Recycle only if a book is too damaged to read or resell, meaning missing pages or covers, water damage, mould, or illegible text.
A quick note on value: most old books are not worth much simply for being old. What raises value is a genuine first edition, an author signature, scarcity, and strong condition. If you think a book might be collectible, check its title or ISBN on a resale marketplace before donating or recycling it.
Why You Should Donate Books You Don't Need Anymore
In recent years, the act of giving has increased. Beyond giving to charity and exchanging gifts, many people donate items they no longer need to organizations that can put them to better use. Books are a prime candidate for donation for a few reasons:
- Spreading knowledge: Throughout history, people have worked to preserve books, manuscripts, and other writings even in the face of disasters. Keeping books in circulation for as long as they are legible and holding together carries that forward.
- Preserving history: A book does not have to be about historical events to be part of history. Every book is the product of an author's work and imagination, plus a glimpse into the period and publishing style of its time. Passing it along preserves that snapshot.
- Giving a fine gift: Of all the gifts to give someone, books rank near the top. They spur the imagination, they are educational, and they are endlessly reusable, so people can return to them and enjoy the experience again after time has passed.
Who Accepts Book Donations?
The most common question is simply which places take books. Here are the reliable ones:
- Goodwill: Yes. Goodwill accepts new and gently used books at its donation centers, and recycles any it cannot resell. Note that many locations do not take encyclopedias, dictionaries, or magazines.
- Salvation Army: Yes. The Salvation Army takes gently used books at its Family Stores and drop-off points, and some locations offer free pickup. Like Goodwill, it generally will not accept dictionaries or encyclopedias.
- Public libraries: Often, but not always. Many libraries accept donations for their Friends of the Library book sales, though some only take them during seasonal drives and a few do not accept unsolicited donations at all. Check your library's website or call first.
- Little Free Libraries: Great for a handful of books. Drop a few into the small neighborhood boxes for someone else to pick up.
Donate to Book Distribution Nonprofits
If your books are still in good condition and you want them to reach a specific cause, several nonprofits specialize in getting them where they are needed. Reading Tree has locations around the world and often ships books to libraries in need. Books for Soldiers sends reading material to members of the armed forces. Books for Africa focuses on increasing book access in specific regions, while Books Through Bars sends books to correctional facilities. For a more general option, Better World Books distributes them to marketplaces based on location and need.
Schools and Universities
Schools of all grade levels and universities will often gladly accept books. Subject matter and intended audience affect whether a specific book is a good fit, so contact the school library or administrator first to confirm what they need.
Where to Sell Books You No Longer Want
If your books have resale value, a few options let you turn them into cash or credit:
- Online buyback services: ThriftBooks runs a BuyBack program where you scan your books, get a prepaid shipping label, send a box of up to 40 lbs, and receive cash via PayPal or store credit, as long as the books meet their condition standards. Other resellers such as Better World Books and World of Books buy or accept books too.
- Local used bookstores: Many buy books outright or offer store credit. Search for used bookstores near you that buy books, and call ahead about what they take.
- Marketplaces: For rare, signed, or collectible titles, a marketplace listing often earns more than a bulk buyback, since you set the price for the right buyer.
What to Do With Textbooks, Encyclopedias, and Bibles
Some books need a different approach:
- Textbooks: Recent editions often have real resale value, so try a buyback service or a campus marketplace before donating. Older editions date quickly and may be recycle-only once no one wants them.
- Encyclopedias and dictionaries: These are the hardest to rehome. Most charities and libraries decline them and there is little resale demand, so recycling is usually the realistic option once you have checked for a local taker.
- Bibles and religious books: Many people prefer not to bin these. Churches, faith-based charities, and religious organizations often welcome them, and some communities have specific donation channels for religious texts.
How to Recycle Books in Bad Condition
Yes, most books can be recycled, but the format matters. Paperbacks can usually go straight into paper recycling. Hardcovers often need the cover and spine removed first, because the stiff board and adhesive are not accepted with regular paper. Donating should always be the first option; recycling is for books that are too far gone to read or resell.
A little wear, like a frayed edge or a small rip, is fine for donation. Books that are missing pages or covers, or that have faded until some words are illegible, are better off recycled.
With over 67 million tons of material recycled in a typical year, and paper and paperboard making up about two-thirds of it, books are strong candidates for reprocessing. To recycle yours, contact your local recycling facility or waste company, since they can tell you how much they take and whether there is a cost or reward.
Getting Books Ready for Recycling
Check a few things before recycling your books. Some facilities require you to remove spines and hardcovers because of the stiff material and adhesives. For single-stream recycling, where one type of material is processed at a time, you may also need to pull out staples so the metal does not mix with the paper. Wet, mouldy, or stained paper is often rejected and may simply need to be thrown out.
Book Lovers Might Enjoy Writing, Too
Clearing out old books is a good way to make room for new reading, and if you love reading, you may love writing as well. Galen Leather makes tools for exactly that, from a leather journal to zippered portfolios and other writing accessories. Contact us to see what we can offer.
FAQs About Donating, Selling, and Recycling Books
Where can I donate books I no longer need?
You can donate books to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, public libraries, schools, and nonprofits like Better World Books, Reading Tree, or Books for Soldiers. These groups distribute books to communities, correctional facilities, and educational institutions in need.
Where can I sell old books for cash?
You can sell books through online buyback services like ThriftBooks, which pays cash via PayPal or store credit for books in good condition, or take them to a local used bookstore that buys books. For rare, signed, or first-edition titles, a marketplace listing usually earns more than a bulk buyback.
Are old books worth money?
Usually not just for being old. Value comes from being a true first edition, carrying an author's signature, scarcity, and good condition. If you suspect a book is collectible, check its title or ISBN on a resale marketplace before donating or recycling it.
Are books recyclable?
Yes, most books are recyclable. Paperbacks can go straight into paper recycling. Hardcovers typically need the cover and spine removed first, since the board and adhesive are not accepted with regular paper.
How do I prepare books for recycling?
Remove any hardcovers, spines, and metal staples if your local facility requires it. Check with your recycling provider about their specific guidelines for paperboard and mixed materials, and set aside any wet or mouldy books, which usually cannot be recycled.
Does Goodwill take books?
Yes. Goodwill accepts new and gently used books at its donation centers and recycles what it cannot resell. Many locations do not accept encyclopedias, dictionaries, or magazines, so leave those out or recycle them instead.
Does the Salvation Army accept books?
Yes. The Salvation Army takes gently used books at its Family Stores and donation drop-offs, and some locations will even pick them up. As with Goodwill, dictionaries and encyclopedias are generally not accepted.
Do libraries take book donations?
Many do, usually for their Friends of the Library book sales, but policies vary. Some libraries only accept donations during seasonal drives, and a few do not take unsolicited books at all. Check your local library's website or call before dropping off.
Can I donate books to schools or universities?
Yes, schools and universities often welcome book donations. Donate age-appropriate and subject-relevant books, and contact the school library or administrator beforehand to confirm their needs.
Is it OK to throw books in the trash?
Only as a last resort. If a book is wet, mouldy, or otherwise unusable, the trash may be the only option. Otherwise, donate readable books and recycle damaged paper ones, since paper and paperboard are among the most widely recycled materials.
1 Response
Declan Duffy
What a refreshing idea. Far better than placing in a dusty attic only to be skipped in the future. Thanks
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